President Benigno S. Aquino III led Friday the turn-over of newly constructed permanent housing units to the survivors of Typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro City saying that the government support for new houses was the result of his administration's good governance.

Speaking during the turn-over ceremony in Bgy. Canitoan in this city, the President said that his administration was able to realize the gargatuan task of providing new and safer homes for the survivors of Typhoon Sendong because of good leadership under his “Daang Matuwid” agenda.

Considering the dangers of yearly typhoons that hit the country, the Chief Executive said his leadership has reformed how the government responds to the country's calamities and disasters.

He cited for instance that the government now has readily available supplies in time of disasters and has provided P500,000 to local government units so that they have emergency funds to use when there are calamities.

The present administration wants to show that it really cares for its people, the President said, adding that different government agencies are continuously working to carry out reforms in preparing for calamities and disaster risk management.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that more than 1,500 new housing units were turned over Friday in Cagayan de Oro City. Of that figure, 1,200 were in Bgy. Canitoan here in this city.

Two hundred families from Bgy. Macasandig are the first occupants of the Indahag Phase 1 resettlement site, which was also awarded on the same day.

The DSWD, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), together with the city government and its partners, are currently working to complete additional homes for the typhoon survivors.

Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman reported to the President that they are targeting to relocate 8,000 typhoon survivors and provide them new houses by August this year.

The government has also started relocating affected residents from a ‘tent city’ to their new housing units in the Calaanan relocation site this week.

The development of the relocation sites was realized through tie ups with the DSWD, the local government of Cagayan de Oro and the DPWH.

The DSWD funded the construction of the houses while the city government of Cagayan de Oro and the DPWH developed the relocation site.

Each quadruplex housing unit, measuring 40 square meters, costs around P70,000, according to the DSWD. The National Housing Authority also contributed additional P40,000 with the help of the Habitat for Humanity.

Aside from having permanent shelters, the beneficiaries also received livelihood assistance worth P975,000 from the government. The money will be released through the associations organized by the beneficiaries.